An Unassuming Archive | An Aegean Alliance

[Hiccup392 742]

 

“Do you want to take a trip?" - “I could use some air.”

 

[Date Unknown]

 

 

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- Prologue -

“Richard!” The name of the Quartermaster had been shouted upwards, as two hands met over one ring. “We are embarking!” That home of theirs was silent, save for the muffled yelping of that party beneath the floorboards. Left in their place were particles of dust and debris floating above a salt-hewn mandala.

 

 

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 - Act I: Awakening -

 

The scratching of stone shifted underneath the feet of two - those clung to one another as if they anticipated hurdling into the pits of Moz’strimoza. With bated breath and averted gazes, they did not notice right away what greeted them. Instead of grating screams and pits of flame, the pair stood amidst comforting colors and warping clouds on either side. A morning fog that bled into the afternoon, gentle swathes of arcing blues of every hue strewn like ribbons over long stretches of yellow ground.

 

The tall, pale mali’aheral let go of her hand and reached to the sky. “It’s- much more pleasant than I was expecting.” Not that his expectations were particularly high. It wasn’t the throes of Moz’strimoza and that was good enough. In fact, there was a comfort to being lost in a place so far from home, how could one even be lost if they had already been found? His eyes watched over her until he passed her flank.

 

Silence stemming from awe stifled the traveler within those moments of realization. A milky gaze took to the scene, peering about with an aching unease at the back of her mind. That realm appeared safe, yet some apprehension wove throughout the air. “We need not linger too long. I’d rather not deal with the consequences of cosmic correction, or… our luck corrupting what reprieve this may provide.” An eventual statement passed towards her pale companion, paired with a gesture towards the mist-woven tethers.

 

“Ne, of course not…” Though his actions said otherwise as the wandering began. His fingers glided across the ebbs and flows of fog. Then the ‘aheral paused. From within the fog gentle golden lights permeated, following the patterns of runes across his arms. That soft light weaving into threads of mana that wove a swirling wind within his hand. “It’s been too long since I was out here- I can’t see anything at all.” 

 

Streaking through that gentle skyline were oscillating hues of silvers and blues, though what followed may have been no more than a trick of their minds. Whatever the case, a familiar voice echoed around the pair as they meant to cross a tether. “Aye!!” That singular chirp bounced from peak to peak, leaving the duo dazed within those mists.

 

In the time it took to draw a single breath, the magi released the conjured swirls of air that whipped out into the horizon. Dreary blues scattering as the world around them was finally revealed as twinkles of gold and pink were left behind. Like the sun peaking over mountains in the morning, for a split second the world was visible in full. Stripped of the veil of clouds that hid its beauty away. 

 

Cat-like eyes widened in awe as he splayed his hand forth, “Look!” Only for it to close as he tried to grasp the rolling yellow peaks themselves, only for the fog to roll back in. Drifts and spools of blues seeping back into the briefly lived gap. He only hoped that the ‘ame had caught the glimpse of an otherworldly sight as the golden threads all dissipated. A weak wave bid off towards the direction of the voice, too elusive to be seen.

 

The clatter of that plate-bearing form ushering forth took place of what comment Leithril may have offered as she nigh danced around the width of one tether, too, seeking whom had called out. Such effort was made in vain as none other was found floating between the clouds, naught more than those two. Whether or not the ‘ame noticed the parted mists was left for the poor ‘aheral to interpret as she did what was warned against - and delved further into those tessellating hues.

 

 

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- Act II: Exploration -

 

In the wake of clarity the burst of wind created dozens if not hundreds of yellow mountain peaks were left bare for the eye to see. Vertiginous stone walls rose overhead, displaying narrow swaths of peaks framed by those dispersed mists. In the center of it all? The rocky plateau the starfarers had landed upon and its patches of pastel yellow grasses swaying in the breeze. Like ships on the open sea when the fog rolled back in the air was filled with a low rumbling as the peaks drifted. As the voidal torrent dissipated, the blue hazes settled back in. Dense enough that the horizon was no longer visible. All that was left in the world were the ‘ame and the ‘aheral beside her. 

 

They both took a seat in the grass for a moment of peace. The dreaded gamble of leaving the material plane having been won as a plane of peace greeted them. Not only was it a place free of roaming demons and roaring flame, but a quiet serene air drifted with each passing shade of blue.

 

So, the ‘aheral offered a question. Something to break that quiet as a matter pressed upon his mind. A hero of hope turned to a hero of one, and where would the future go now? Until the sun began to set the two continued to talk, a debate on melancholy and the state of the world. Haelunor was gone, and the children of Malin scattered. Souls immolated and whether something could be done or not. 

 

The answer was that something, for everything, could be done. Tomorrow would come and tomorrow would be brighter. The hero’s crown returned to him in the form of hope, gifted with the power of friendship.

 

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- Act III: To the Future -

 

Rippling waves and an ebbing of debris tore through the realities of this plane anew, before it spat out two forms onto the stones of another earth. Those unaware travelers were greeted with a surging heat quick to singe their skin, and taunt what was layered in cloth and metal alike. Likewise, a sudden burst of smoke spewed upwards, staining their sight in monochromatic grays. Beyond the dissipating vapors lay a foreign continent, vastly stretched beneath a substantially sized piece of cookware molded of steel - daring to block the sun or moon alike from reaching those lands.

 

No sooner had those two stepped foot onto that strange world, did they seek to breach the confines of the heat whilst working to be freed from it. The magi worked his magicks, too did the knight - one controlling the temperatures to a desperate degree as the other wrought forth an eldritch means of expungement.

 

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 - Epilogue -

 

A singularity in the air appeared once-more, hewn by the hand of one. Within the sanctity of the very room they had departed from, the pair found themselves as a crumpled and singed entanglement against the floor.  Either parted in peace, seeking to nurture their burns and mental fortitude alike. Another grating sequence had passed within that broken cycle of time, leaving each with more hope and questions alike.

 

 

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Please do not metagame this post, this is something to be explored in-character.

(shoutout to @kuebiko !)